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News, publications & web content management at GCCMon, 02 Mar 2015 17:11:44 +0000en-UShourly1http://www.gcc.mass.edu/?v=3.9.1First Graders Go to College for Read Across America Dayhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/27/first-graders-go-to-college-for-read-across-america-day/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/27/first-graders-go-to-college-for-read-across-america-day/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 14:47:55 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1730On March 2nd, 60 first graders from Greenfield’s Federal Street School will go to college, visiting Greenfield Community College’s Main Campus to celebrate the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. During their day “in college” at GCC’s celebration, the children will listen to President Bob Pura read Seuss’s book The Lorax, plant seeds in the College’s greenhouse, and work on painting projects and an essay activity focusing on “If I was the Lorax, this is how I would help our Earth….” Along with President Pura, GCC faculty, staff, and student volunteers will work with the children during the day.

The Read Across America Day celebration is just one of many collaborations between GCC and the Federal Street School. Melanie A. Zamojski, Faculty in GCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, explained, “GCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program has worked with the Federal Street School for several years. Service Learning is a required part of our nursing program to encourage civic and community engagement during our students’ time at GCC and after they graduate. Last year, we started bringing Federal St. School first graders ‘to college,’ providing ‘classes’ on healthy eating and habits. The GCC students learned how to manage and plan teaching activities for this age group. The first graders not only have had consistent contact with GCC students, they ask the nursing students about what it is like going to college and what kind of things are they learning.”

The success of the GCC/Federal St. School wellness project led to discussion between GCC and the school district about how to expand the partnership to include GCC students from other majors.

Greenfield Public Schools District Volunteer Coordinator Marianne Harcourt applauds the expanded partnership saying, “The partnership between GCC Nursing students and the Federal Street School is mutually beneficial. Nursing students have the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned and engage proactively with children and the children begin to understand the importance of healthy eating, exercise, and safety as they grow and develop. Last fall, a group of GCC Early Childhood students hosted the Federal Street first graders in two literacy-based projects. GCC and its students are a wonderful resource for our schools and students. We will continue to think about ways we can expand our partnership with GCC students in our schools.”

Mary McEntee, GCC’s Coordinator of Student Activities & Community Service, said “The partnership between the Greenfield Public Schools and GCC provides great opportunities for GCC students to be involved in community service learning projects. GCC students are taking the initiative to help design and lead these programs. Barbara Adams, a GCC Student Senate member and a parent, is the lead student volunteer working on the Read Across America program. GCC alumna and Massachusetts Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Coordinator Kia Burton-McLaughlin is based in the Office of Student Activities & Community Service and works with Greenfield High School students helping them prepare for college.”

Along with community service projects with local schools, GCC students volunteer at the Stone Soup Café, participate in gleaning projects with local farms, and help build houses with Habitat for Humanity.

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/27/first-graders-go-to-college-for-read-across-america-day/feed/0GCC & Baystate Franklin Medical Center Partner to Create NEW Simulation Learning Labhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/11/gcc-baystate-franklin-medical-center-partner-to-create-new-simulation-learning-lab/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/11/gcc-baystate-franklin-medical-center-partner-to-create-new-simulation-learning-lab/#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 15:45:51 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1715Opening in time for the spring semester, Greenfield Community College and Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s new Simulation Learning Lab will provide a state-of-the-art interactive learning environment for GCC students and BFMC health care staff. Partnering to create the new Lab, GCC provided the patient simulation manikin and computers that run it, while BFMC provided space in a building on the BFMC campus. The Lab is outfitted to look like a hospital patient room and is a dedicated space for simulation training for GCC nursing, paramedic, and EMT students and for patient care providers. Using the Simulation Learning Lab, GCC faculty and BFMC nurse educators will provide a practice environment for students and hospital staff to practice clinical, team work, and communication skills. A wide range of specific patient care scenarios can be programmed into the manikin to address different clinical lessons, such as an older patient with dementia and other health issues, labor and delivery, post-partum hemorrhaging, cardiac arrest, gastro-intestinal bleeding, and stroke. Simulations using this type of sophisticated equipment are increasingly a standard part of the curriculum for educating health care providers. Key components of simulation training include an opportunity for students to develop muscle memory and cognitive memory and get feedback on their skills through expert debriefing of the scenario.

The new Simulation Learning Lab represents an expansion of the long-time collaboration between the college and the hospital. The idea for the Lab started with a GCC Associate Degree Nursing Program Advisory Board meeting last summer when GCC faculty expressed frustration that they had the equipment for another simulation lab, but lacked the space for it. Kayte Bak MSN, RN, BFMC’s Nurse Practice Educator, heard the faculty’s concern and wondered whether BFMC could accommodate the space needed. GCC faculty and staff and BFMC staff were enthusiastic about working together to create a Simulation Learning Lab. Since then, representatives of each institution met to work out the details of the partnership and the two institutions signed a partnership contract in November.

Nancy Craig-Williams PhD, MS, RN, GCC’s Assistant Dean for Nursing Programs, said “This partnership brings together the resources of two community institutions – GCC and BFMC – to expand educational opportunities for our community. The hospital is providing much needed space for education of GCC students, hospital staff, and area EMS providers. This new Simulation Learning Lab and continued collaboration between GCC and BFMC means everyone wins – students seeking to develop health care careers, hospital and EMS professionals seeking professional development, and the community being served by area health care professionals.”

Bak said, “GCC and BFMC already share a strong working collaboration, and this takes it to another level. Because of our strong connection, the generous donors who provided the simulation equipment to GCC, and BFMC’s commitment to our community, BFMC’s nurses and other health care providers will be able to learn in a state-of-the-art safe environment.”

Leesa-Lee Keith RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer at BFMC, agrees that “This partnership helps our whole community succeed. For hospital personnel, the Lab offers a low-stress learning environment where people can learn best. This technology allows us to bring the very best to GCC students and health care providers on the hospital staff. The Lab helps BFMC stay on the cusp of best practices, so we can provide high quality, high safety, compassionate care to members of our community.”

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/11/gcc-baystate-franklin-medical-center-partner-to-create-new-simulation-learning-lab/feed/0Local Designer Awarded Child Care Center Projecthttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/06/local-designer-awarded-child-care-center-project/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/06/local-designer-awarded-child-care-center-project/#commentsFri, 06 Feb 2015 17:46:26 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1693Greenfield-based Jones Whitsett Architects has been chosen to design Greenfield Community College’s new Child Care Center. The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance(DCAMM) selected Jones Whitsett to design a state-of-the-art facility that will combine a healthy, creative educational setting with maximum environmental efficiency. Jones Whitsett is led by Principal Architect Margo JonesAIA, NCARB, LEED AP. Jones Whitsett Architects is an award-winning architectural practice with three decades of experience providing architectural services on municipal, cultural, and historic preservation projects. Over the past two decades, school design has become the largest part of Jones Whitsett’s portfolio. The firm is known for their creative collaboration, ability to listen, high performance technical expertise, sensitivity to community and context, and functional pragmatism.

The new Child Care Center will be the first on-campus child care center at GCC since GCC’s Head Start program ended about fifteen years ago when renovation began on the College’s Main Building. The new Center will be built on the College’s Main Campus and will serve GCC the families of GCC staff, faculty and students, as well as families from throughout the community. It will also serve as the “lab school” for students in GCC’s Education programs to do their field work.

Commenting on the selection of Jones Whitsett, GCC President Bob Pura said, “The competition for this project was stiff with many good architects from throughout the state eager to take on the work. We are especially pleased that the DCAMM Review Board chose Greenfield-based Jones Whitsett Architects to design GCC’s new Child Care Center. Margo Jones’ understanding of GCC is long-standing. This brings an added dimension and understanding of this community to the design of the Center. Knowing that Jones Whitsett is designing the Center elevates our excitement about the project. We are hopeful that children, teachers, parents, and GCC’s students will be entering the new Child Care Center by January of 2017.”

Responding to DCAMM’s decision, Jones said, “Jones Whitsett Architects is truly thrilled to have been selected as the design firm for this important project. It is a very exciting project, which will utilize many of our strengths and passions—healthy, creative educational environments, cutting edge sustainable design, participatory and reclamation landscape architecture, and early childhood design that will be ‘state of the art.’ Certainly affordable, high quality child care for GCC is needed, and will be a huge resource for the College and its community. We are especially honored to be chosen to follow in the footsteps of the previous design team who, in partnership with GCC and DCAMM, made beautiful improvements to the Main Building at the campus. We have every confidence we can meet and possibly exceed this very high bar for interactive, accessible architecture. Since the child care facility will be a new building, we’ll be able to make it even ‘greener,’ and hopefully comply with Passive House requirements for low energy use. And, it’s so great that we are a short bike ride away, and many of our staff and families have worked or studied at GCC. I was on the GCC Foundation Board many years ago, my daughter went to GCC, and it is gratifying to be working with President Pura and his staff on this exciting project.”

Reflecting on the need for an on-campus Child Care Center, Kate Finnegan, GCC Professor of Education, said, “In order to flourish as younger human beings, children need loving care, food, shelter, heat, clothing, and education. In addition, educational programs like those that will be housed in the new Center offer protection, foster resiliency, and create opportunity. As children flourish and mature into adulthood, they begin their unique journey into the larger world. GCC welcomes the children and their families who will be served by the programming delivered at the new facility on GCC campus. A majority of the parents of children served by child care programming at the new GCC facility will be, in all likelihood, GCC students. When GCC’s previous child care program closed years ago, 75% of the children’s parents were also GCC students.”

Working on the Child Care Center design along with Jones Whitsett will be Keith Miller of Miller Design LLC. Miller said, “Miller Design has designed over 100 Child Care Centers in the United States and abroad and we are excited to be part of the design team with Jones Whitsett Architects. We look forward to sharing our expertise with the team and community in creating a building that will in turn shape the future of the community through the children, faculty, and students. As a team, we feel it is important that everyone understands that this needs to be a great place to be a child because it is the only childhood he or she will ever have.”

By Mary McClintock, ’82

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/06/local-designer-awarded-child-care-center-project/feed/0Greenfield Community College Announces New Director of Campus Public Safetyhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/06/greenfield-community-college-announces-new-director-of-campus-public-safety/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/02/06/greenfield-community-college-announces-new-director-of-campus-public-safety/#commentsFri, 06 Feb 2015 16:26:01 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1691Fulfilling his long-time career goal, Luis R. Santamaria has been chosen as Greenfield Community College’s new Director of Campus Public Safety and begins his new position on February 9. Santamaria will oversee GCC’s Campus Public Safety department and serve as GCC’s Chief of Police. He leaves his position as Associate Director of Public Safety for Curry College in Milton, MA and replaces the former GCC Director who recently retired. Prior to his work at Curry College, Santamaria served as a Sergeant for Tufts University for nine years and as a Campus Police Officer at Simmons College and Officer in Charge at Western New England University.

Commenting on Santamaria’s appointment, GCC Chief Financial Officer Tim Braim said, “We are fortunate to have someone of Santamaria’s background with his experience in a college environment. This is a very important position that requires both broad skill and knowledge and the right personality. We received very positive feedback about Santamaria from GCC community members who attended the candidate public forums we held. He’s a very friendly person who will communicate well with everyone and will be out and about, talking with students and staff. Santamaria is the right person to fit into the GCC campus community.”

Eager to step into his new role, Santamaria said, “A long time ago, I chose campus law enforcement for my career because I really believe in higher education. This is my dream fulfilled and I am grateful to have the opportunity. It’s exactly where I want to be. I’ll be able to exercise everything I’ve learned and will be involved in the community, helping the Campus Public Safety department follow through on the College’s mission statement. I will have an open door policy. I’m a good listener and I look forward to addressing the needs of the community.” Santamaria graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Western New England University in Springfield, MA and then went on to complete a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration there. He served as Vice President of his class at the Special State Police Academy. Santamaria holds EMT Certification and has certification as a MCJTC Sexual Assault Investigator, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Rape Aggression Defense Instructor. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Santamaria grew up in Hastings on Hudson near Yonkers, NY and went to college and graduate school in western Massachusetts. Santamaria’s brother is currently in law school at Western New England University and he looks forward to living closer to his brother.

At Greenfield Community College, 2+2 equals more than four, it equals earning an accredited Elms College Bachelor of Arts degree delivered on the GCC campus. Culminating a highly collaborative effort by Greenfield Community College and Elms College faculty and staff, GCC President Bob Pura and Elms College President Sister Mary Reap met at GCC to sign the Memoranda of Understanding authorizing the new programs. Starting in Fall, 2015, GCC students who want to pursue bachelor’s degree programs in Business Management & Marketing or Early Care and Education will be able to complete their degrees on the GCC main campus. The two new degree completion programs join two existing Elms College degree completion programs available to GCC students: a Bachelor in Social Work program that is offered on the GCC campus and a fully online Bachelor of Speech Language Pathology Assistant program. This expanded partnership will continue to grow in the future with the addition of other 2+2 content area associate’s to bachelor’s completion programs.

GCC and Elms College’s collaboration expands the options for students who have received a GCC associate’s degree to continue their education toward a bachelor’s degree affordably and close to home. Students start at GCC, are carefully advised to complete a two-year GCC associate’s degree while satisfying Elms College admissions requirements for selected programs, then continue at GCC with the Elms program for up to two years to complete their bachelor’s degree. Courses for the new Bachelor of Arts Degree Completion Programs will be taught by faculty approved by Elms on Saturdays at GCC’s campus in Greenfield. Elms delivers the program at the GCC campus for a significant discount in comparison to studying at the Elms campus in Chicopee.

Applauding the expanded partnership, GCC President Bob Pura said, “Working collaboratively to increase access to the Baccalaureate Degree here at GCC is important to our current students as well as our alumni. Many GCC students, however, are place-bound because of work and family commitments. It is for those students that we have worked with Elms to create these opportunities. This is a win for our students, a win for the community, and a win for both colleges!”

Elms College President Sister Mary Reap said, “The GCC/Elms 2+2 agreement is one more effort in the partnership begun two years ago with the undergraduate completion program offered on the campus of GCC. America faces a challenge of affordable, high-quality higher education. I am pleased and proud that the joint efforts of our two colleges allow us to respond to this challenge and to find new and innovative approaches to meet the higher education needs of our local communities.”

Collaboration was of the highest level in creating this richly expanded set of options where students can complete the two degrees with the greatest use of their time and credits.

Faculty at GCC and Elms worked closely to articulate GCC’s associate’s and Elms bachelor’s degree requirements to provide a smooth and meaningful educational pathway so students can utilize their GCC course work to effectively enhance their skills and knowledge at a more advanced level. Faculty and staff from both colleges have also worked to coordinate recruitment, admissions, and advising systems to make sure students get the best of both colleges.

Leading the partnership effort have been GCC Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer Sher Hruska and Elms Vice President of Academic Affairs Walter C. Breau and GCC Dean of Business & Information Technology, Professional Studies, and Social Sciences Kathy Vranos and Elms College Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Elizabeth Hukowicz. These four leaders applauded the expanded partnership:

Hruska said, “We particularly appreciate this opportunity to work with Elms given the dedication we all share regarding individualized attention and support for students.”

Breau said, “These new programs are accelerated, accessible, and affordable, allowing students to fit continuing education into their busy family and work lives. Higher education is transformative. Our collective goal is to assist students in obtaining both degrees on their way to future success.”

Vranos said, “GCC is thrilled to offer an affordable bachelor’s degree of the caliber of Elms College on its campus in Greenfield. GCC understands the needs of a select group of students who work full-time, often are working parents and for whom it is hard to leave Franklin County for continuing education. Offering programs of this caliber meets a long-time demand for four-year programs on the GCC campus.”

Hukowicz said, “The GCC & Elms 2+2 Partnership means that students will study in familiar settings and remain close to home, family and work during their accelerated sessions. The students benefit from the GCC and Elms community that supports and enriches them.”

The Elms College Business Management & Marketing Bachelor of Art degree is built on top of the GCC Business Administration Transfer Associate of Arts degree and GCC’s Early Childhood Education Associate of Science degree feeds into the Elms Early Care and Education Bachelor of Art degree.

For more information on the GCC/Elms College 2+2 Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs:

Students who have not completed GCC degrees should contact GCC Admissions at (413) 775-1801 or admissions@gcc.mass.edu.

Students who have completed GCC degrees and want to apply for admission to a two-year Elms College Bachelor’s Degree Completion program should contact Kristine Gomes, Elms College Coordinator at (413) 835-1772, gomesk@elms.edu.

By Mary McClintock, ’82

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/01/30/gcc-elms-college-to-offer-4-bachelors-degree-completion-programs/feed/0New Certificate Program to Advance Corrections Careershttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/01/22/new-certificate-program-to-advance-corrections-careers/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/01/22/new-certificate-program-to-advance-corrections-careers/#commentsThu, 22 Jan 2015 16:59:45 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1674Greenfield Community College’s new Corrections Certificate Program is part of a community solution to reducing incarceration. The nine-course Certificate focuses on inmate management, treatment, and re-entry into the community and fits within the nationally recognized Transition from Jail to Community Model (TJC) currently in use at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The Program prepares students for employment in the corrections field, increases the knowledge of people already employed as corrections officers, and gives them career enhancement opportunities. All credits earned toward the Corrections Certificate can be applied to GCC’s Associate in Science degrees in Criminal Justice. Students may start taking courses toward the Certificate this spring and the first Certificates will be awarded at the end of the 2015 fall semester.

Kathleen M. Vranos, GCC’s Dean of Business & Information Technology, Professional Studies, and Social Sciences, said, “For those who want to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community and make an impact on the lives of individuals, the Corrections Certificate offers access to a rewarding career pathway with strong compensation. GCC’s new Corrections Certificate challenges the inevitability of repeat offenders.”

David Lanoie, GCC adjunct faculty member in Criminal Justice and former Superintendent of the Franklin County House of Corrections, and Walter Nieliwocki, Coordinator of the GCC Criminal Justice Program, developed the Certificate after reviewing corrections-related certificate programs nationwide. The Corrections Certificate includes existing GCC courses in criminal justice, law, sociology, psychology, and communications as well as a new course taught by Lanoie on Contemporary Inmate Management and Treatment Practices. Lanoie brings his experience working with Sheriff Christopher Donelan in applying the TJC model as a holistic approach to assisting inmates in successfully returning to the community. Franklin County is one of only six counties in the U.S. identified by the National Institute of Corrections with TJC status.

Lanoie said, “Franklin County and Hampshire County’s Houses of Correction use an assessment and clinical model for managing and treating inmates that has been proven by research to assist them in dealing with the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior. This Certificate gives current and future corrections staff a broader perspective of their role in the corrections system and helps develop corrections staff who are well-rounded individuals with an understanding of both the security and treatment of inmates.”

Applauding the new Certificate, Franklin County Sheriff Chris Donelan said, “The timing of this is perfect because of the transformation going on at the Franklin County House of Corrections. Gone are the days of jail guards counting heads and enforcing discipline. Modern corrections officers are part of a comprehensive team that includes social workers and clinicians and they are as engaged in changing inmates lives as anyone else at the House of Corrections.”

Walter Nieliwocki, Coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program, said, “Corrections is very meaningful and rewarding work. This Certificate, part of GCC’s ongoing commitment to our community’s needs, will give students the opportunity to move toward an interesting career with excellent pay. For those already working in corrections, there are employer financial incentives for those who further their education through such programs as GCC’s Correction Certificate.”

It’s not too late to get started toward making an impact in our community. For information about the Corrections Certificate visit gcc.mass.edu/corrections/. contact Walter Nieliwocki at 413-775-1136, nieliwocki@gcc.mass.edu.

By Mary McClintock, ’82

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2015/01/22/new-certificate-program-to-advance-corrections-careers/feed/0Student Recognized by New England Educatorshttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/12/08/student-recognized-by-new-england-educators/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/12/08/student-recognized-by-new-england-educators/#commentsMon, 08 Dec 2014 15:41:36 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1664Megan Doull’s instructors at Greenfield Community College aren’t the only ones who know she’s an exceptional student. Educational leaders from across New England recognize Doull’s academic success. At their annual Fall conference, members of the Learning Assistance Association of New England (LAANE) presented Doull with the LAANE Student Scholarship. Highly recommended by GCC faculty, Doull was chosen from applicants from across New England. LAANE’s $500 Student Scholarship is awarded to a student who is enrolled in a bachelor or associate degree program, has completed at least 6 credits of developmental course work, earned at least 24 credits, and has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20. LAANE, a regional affiliate of the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE), is a non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance, advancement, and improvement of developmental education through research and practice. Developmental courses are taken by students whose college entrance exams show they do not have adequate preparation for some college-level courses; developmental courses serve as a pathway into college-level courses.

Doull, 19, from Colrain, has taken developmental courses at GCC and made a highly successful transition from developmental courses into college-level courses. She is currently taking prerequisites in preparation for applying to GCC’s Associates Degree of Nursing program. Doull was on the Spring 2014 Dean’s List (over 3.50 term grade point average), and on the Summer 2014 President’s List (4.00 term grade point average). After completing her Associates Degree, Doull plans to study toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, perhaps through GCC’s partnership with Endicott College or at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Commenting on Doull’s success at GCC, GCC English Instructor and Co-Coordinator of Peer Tutoring, Cindy Snow, said, “Megan Doull knows what she wants and she works like mad to get there. Megan is excelling at Greenfield Community College. She started at GCC with fair to good skills, curiosity, intelligence, and drive; she applied herself wholeheartedly, and moved on to solidify her accomplishments and develop excellent skills. She’s the sort of student every instructor wishes to have in class. She was never late, never left early, and she volunteered in class on a regular basis. She also worked well in small groups, guiding her peers if they drifted off task, and tackling projects with enthusiasm. I enjoy watching her progress and can’t wait to see her graduate and attain her goals.”

Reflecting on the LAANE award, Doull said, “It has been very gratifying to have my hard work noticed. I never thought something like this would happen and it’s really helped motivate me. The biggest thing I’ve learned at GCC is to try. I was scared to try at first, but GCC helped me gain hope. Everyone at GCC has helped me be able to get this scholarship; I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help. I’m a year ahead of where I thought I would be in working towards being a nurse.”

Doull graduated from Franklin County Technical High School where she studied Health Technology and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. The clinical hours in high school helped prepare her for her future career. During her senior year of high school, she completed the Emergency Medical Technician Basic course, receiving six GCC college credits. Doull has studied at GCC since fall 2013 when she took three developmental classes and one credit-bearing class. In January 2014, she took an intensive college level English composition class. In Spring 2014, she took two credit courses and two developmental courses. During the summer 2014 sessions, she studied an intensive version of Anatomy and Physiology. Currently, Doull is taking a psychology course, Sociology 101, Microbiology, developmental math, and her humanities elective, Middle Eastern Dance. Along with studying, Doull enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, helping out family members with chores, and volunteer work. She also enjoys hunting and has hunted her whole life. She and her family eat everything they harvest, and Doull values spending time outdoors in the peace of nature.

Commenting on her experience at GCC, Doull said, “I chose Greenfield Community College because it is close to where I live and their nursing program has an outstanding reputation and job outlook. I know GCC’s nursing program is extremely competitive and acceptance is not easy, so this gives me incentive to put my utmost effort into my studies. GCC is full of hardworking students. This atmosphere of intellectual peers and experienced, caring professors and staff make it a setting to thrive in academically and socially. The college trains its students well for their careers, as both my aunt and family friend experienced in nursing jobs after receiving their GCC degree. My goal was, and is, to show dedication in my studies so I have a strong reputation in the college when applying to its nursing program.”

Nationally, studies indicate that over 50% of students entering community colleges take developmental courses. Doull’s success stands out.

GCC’s Peer Tutoring Program Co-coordinator Norman Beebe serves on the Executive Board of LAANE and chairs the conference proposal committee. Over 100 educators from throughout New England attended the 2014 LAANE conference.

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/12/08/student-recognized-by-new-england-educators/feed/0GCC Leader in Training Public Safety Professionalshttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/11/14/gcc-leader-in-training-public-safety-professionals/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/11/14/gcc-leader-in-training-public-safety-professionals/#commentsFri, 14 Nov 2014 17:17:58 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1649National leaders and area employers know Greenfield Community College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Fire Science Technology (FST) programs are at the forefront of training public safety professionals. GCC-trained Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics consistently perform better on certification exams than the national average and are sought after by regional employers who know GCC EMS graduates are well-trained. This fall, GCC’s Fire Science Technology program was recognized by the National Fire Academy as a Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) college. FESHE is a collaborative partnership between higher education institutions, the National Fire Academy, and the United States Fire Administration. FESHE Recognition means GCC’s FST program’s curriculum, text books, course descriptions, and degree requirements conform to the high standards instituted by the FESHE collaborative. Along with receiving a degree from an institution recognized as achieving a higher standard, GCC FST students will receive a certificate from the National Fire Academy and have greater ease when transferring credits to other schools or having their credentials recognized by other states.

Emergency Medical Services providers must pass psychomotor and cognitive exams to be certified. For the past two years, 100% of GCC Basic EMT students have passed the national psychomotor exam. For the past three years, GCC Basic EMT students’ first time pass rate for the cognitive exam has been 80%, in comparison with a national average of 69%. For the past three years, GCC Paramedic students’ first time pass rate for the national certification cognitive exam has been 85%, in comparison with a national average of 72%. For the past five years, 88% of the students initially enrolled in the 20-month Paramedic program graduated and received a Paramedic Certificate. Most GCC-trained Paramedics are gainfully employed as Paramedics. GCC is the first location in western Massachusetts to offer the new national Paramedic psychomotor exam and people from throughout the northeast come to GCC to be tested.

Commenting on GCC’s Paramedic Program, Monty Ruff, Assistant Professor in the Paramedic Certificate Program,said, “Even though EMT stands for Emergency Medical ‘Technician,’ my mantra is that we’re not training students to be technicians, we’re training them to be clinicians. Clinicians have the ability to think critically and apply their knowledge in emergency medical situations. GCC’s EMS program teaches critical thinking along with the technical skills.”

The FESHE Recognition comes after a complete overhaul of GCC’s FST program to meet national standards. GCC continues its collaboration with Berkshire Community College so students can take FESHE curriculum courses offered by either school. Many of GCC’s FST courses are taught online or in a hybrid on-site/online format to meet the needs of students, including full-time firefighters furthering their careers. Every semester GCC offers at least one fully online FESHE-recognized course.

Charles “Butch” Garrity, GCC FST Adjunct Faculty member and Deputy Chief of the Lanesborough Fire Department, said, “GCC should be proud to have achieved recognition as a FESHE institution providing the best for its students, instructors, and the fire and emergency medical services community.”

GCC’s EMS and FST Program Director Dawn Josefski said, “I appreciate the financial and programmatic support that GCC provides to the EMS and FST programs so we can implement the best education possible for EMS and FST personnel. Our high standard of education means our graduates can provide a high level of care to the public.”

Interim Dean of Professional Studies Kathy Vranos said, “GCC is extremely proud of the dedication and competence of Dawn Josefski, Monty Ruff, and all of the adjunct faculty as they lead these programs. Their commitment to high quality standards and training for students in the EMS and FST programs is exemplary and sets an extraordinary example of professionalism and teamwork for students in this field for the life of their careers.”

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/11/14/gcc-leader-in-training-public-safety-professionals/feed/0Student Civic Engagement Project Helps Local Farm and Food Bankhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/31/student-civic-engagement-project-helps-local-farm-and-food-bank/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/31/student-civic-engagement-project-helps-local-farm-and-food-bank/#commentsFri, 31 Oct 2014 17:12:31 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1647On November 2, Greenfield Community College volunteers will take their commitment to civic engagement off campus and out to the field. GCC students, staff, and faculty will participate in a gleaning trip sponsored by GCC’s Civic Engagement and Service Learning program on Sunday afternoon, November 2 to rescue food from area farms and bring it to those in need within the community. Gleaning is the gathering of produce after the harvest. Farmers are often unable to sell all of their produce, either because of imperfections or because they simply cannot harvest it all. Participants in this project will collect the excess produce and donate it to area food pantries including the GCC Food Pantry and Franklin County Community Meals Program through a community organization based in Springfield, Rachel’s Table. Since 1992, Rachel’s Table has been working to alleviate hunger and reduce food waste in Western Massachusetts. Alyce Stiles, Director of Workforce Development at GCC and also a Board member of Rachel’s Table, will lead the November 2 event. Stiles said, “As THIS community’s college, this gleaning trip is a wonderful way to give back to our community and help those who are in need of high quality, nutritious produce that is in our surrounding fields.” Abrah Dresdale, Coordinator of GCC’s Farm & Food Systems Program sees many benefits for GCC students participating in a gleaning event, regardless of their field of study. Dresdale said, “GCC students involved in gleaning as civic engagement get to share an experiential activity outside of the classroom. This is often a bonding experience for students that helps build the GCC community. They also get a close-up view of the waste in agricultural production. In the U.S., one-third of agricultural production goes to waste. Gleaning helps capture some of that food loss and divert it into the charitable food system. When GCC students, staff, and faculty go out into the fields or orchards and glean, they get to harvest the produce, weigh the boxes, see how many hundreds of pounds of food they’ve saved from rotting in the fields, and then take it to a food pantry. In the past, I’ve seen students put produce they’ve gleaned on the food pantry shelves, then see people come into the pantry, take an apple picked by a GCC student off the shelf, and eat it. It is empowering and inspiring. So much of food production and distribution is out of the public view. People who participate in gleaning are able to connect the dots of how the food system works and become active participants in shaping the local food system.” The November 2 gleaning trip, one of many programs sponsored by GCC’s Civic Engagement and Service Learning program, is being advertised through social media and email. Students who have already signed up for the event include members of the GCC Student Senate and the GCC Student Veterans organization, VetNet. Commenting on civic engagement at GCC, Judy Raper, GCC’s Director of Student Development, said: “Currently the program offers about two civic learning programs a month. They are strictly volunteer activities and students do not get credit. We have an ongoing relationship with Stone Soup Café in Greenfield and our students volunteer there on a monthly basis. Staff and faculty are always invited to these programs and at least one staff member is always present. We have a civic engagement advisory board which is a group of Franklin County partners we meet with twice a semester to get feedback regarding how we can meet community needs as it relates to service. We also encourage our partners to submit service and internship opportunities to our website.” Jessica Harwood, Gleaning Coordinator for Rachel’s Table, said, “We are looking forward to the GCC students harvesting and donating produce right in their own community in Franklin County. This is the eighth year of our gleaning program. During that time, we have engaged over 500 volunteers to harvest and donate over 70,000 pounds of produce to area agencies. Our volunteers include youth groups, school and college groups, church members, and community volunteers, ranging in age from 11 to seniors. We maintain an email list of people who are interested in volunteering.”

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/31/student-civic-engagement-project-helps-local-farm-and-food-bank/feed/0Cheri Ducharme appointed Simmons Nursing Faculty Endowed Chairhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/24/cheri-ducharme-appointed-simmons-nursing-faculty-endowed-chair/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/24/cheri-ducharme-appointed-simmons-nursing-faculty-endowed-chair/#commentsFri, 24 Oct 2014 17:08:04 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1637Greenfield Community College Nursing Professor Cheri Ducharme has been appointed to the Jean Simmons Nursing Faculty Endowed Chair. The Simmons Endowed Chair was endowed as part of a $1 million fund donated by anonymous donors in June, 2013. The endowed faculty chair is named in honor of long-time GCC nurse educator, Jean Simmons ’65 and is the first endowed faculty position at a community college in Massachusetts.

Ducharme has been a full-time faculty member in GCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program for seventeen years, teaching Fundamentals and Pediatrics and Skills Lab. She’s worked in every role in the Program, twice serving as Program Coordinator. Ducharme is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Simulation Lab Coordinator. In addition to her teaching background, Ducharme worked from 1976 to 2005 as a nurse in various settings in Franklin County, including Greenfield Pediatrics Associates, Greenfield Health Center, Farren Memorial Hospital, Franklin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Pioneer Family Physicians. Ducharme holds a Diploma from Burbank Hospital School of Nursing in Fitchburg, MA, a B.S. in Nursing from Fitchburg State College, and a M.S. in Nursing focused on Gerontology/Teaching from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Responding to her appointment to the Simmons Endowed Chair, Ducharme said, “It is a tremendous honor to be appointed to a position named for Jean. Jean Simmons has been my mentor and role model. Jean IS the GCC Nursing Program. She made us who we are, a community-oriented program with very high standards and a strong commitment to supporting our students and providing well-trained nurses for our community and beyond. She started the Nursing Program’s service learning component. Jean is so energetic, enthusiastic, and involved in every part of the community.”

Jean Simmons grew up in Florence, and graduated from Northampton High School in 1963. She was the first nursing program applicant to be admitted as a GCC nursing student and she graduated with the first class from the program. As well as working as a nurse in the community, Simmons taught in GCC’s Nursing program in 1968 and from 1974 to 2003 and served as Coordinator of the Associate of Science Nursing Program from 1998 to 2003. Simmons is now a Professor Emeritus.

Commenting on the appointment, GCC President Bob Pura said, “Cheri Ducharme is the consummate educator. She embodies all that is good about teaching, learning, community health care, and civic engagement. I could not be happier for her or any more pleased for this appointment. I know that our donors are especially pleased.”

Responding to the announcement of Ducharme being appointed to the faculty chair named in her honor, Jean Simmons said, “Cheri has been a stabilizing force in the Associate Degree Nursing Program through the years, stepping up to a variety of challenges, mentoring, role-modeling, teaching, supervising, facilitating, and initiating change as well. She is an exceptional faculty member and has had an active role in the local community and internationally. Her Service Learning participation has facilitated far-reaching clinical and community health experiences with our nursing students in multicultural settings, including Navajo reservations and Haiti. She will ‘sit’ in the ‘Chair’ with integrity and I’m very pleased Cheri has been chosen for the inaugural ‘Simmons Chair’ honor.”

Jean Doherty Simmons holds an Associate of Science in Nursing from GCC, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Anselm College, and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. At GCC, she served as Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Acting Director-Nursing Program (1983-84, 1993-94), Professor (1990-2003), Coordinator-AD Nursing Program (1998-2003), and Service Learning Coordinator for the ADN Program (2003-2012), Professor Emeritus (2003-current).

Simmons has a long history of practice as a nurse. From 1975 to 1988, she worked at Farren Memorial Hospital in several roles, including as a Staff Nurse, Per Diem Charge Nurse, and Enterostomal Therapist. From 1988 to 2010, she served as a Consultant to the Education Department of Franklin Medical Center. In addition to her work in local hospitals, Simmons was active in Nursing Practice in a variety of settings, including serving as Staff Nurse at New England Deaconess Hospital (Boston), Office Nurse and Orthopedic Surgical Assistant for Dr. George Byram (Pensacola, FL), OR Nurse at Hartford Hospital (Perryville, MD), Visiting Nurse (San Diego, CA), and Utilization Review/Discharge Planning Co-ordinator at Kaiser (Vallejo, CA).

Funding the faculty chair created approximately $50,000 in annual payroll cost savings. The cost savings are being used to support a part-time Advisor position and a scholarship program. The Nursing Pathways Transitions Advisor facilitates student goal achievement in the nursing profession, working with students to help make the transitions between the different levels of nursing degree programs seamless. The direct scholarship program provides 23 scholarships each year to assist with the financial needs of students as they progress along the advancing nursing levels of certified nursing assistant, practical nurse, Registered Nurse and onto bachelors’ level preparation in nursing.

By Mary McClintock, ‘82

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/24/cheri-ducharme-appointed-simmons-nursing-faculty-endowed-chair/feed/0Students See State Government, Up Close and Personalhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/23/students-see-state-government-up-close-and-personal/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/23/students-see-state-government-up-close-and-personal/#commentsThu, 23 Oct 2014 18:15:41 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1630Students in GCC Professor Buz Eisenberg’s Political Science classes do more than read about state government, they meet the people who make the laws. On November 13, Eisenberg and 19 GCC students will travel to Representative Paul Mark’s 2nd Berkshire Day at the Massachusetts State House. They’ll join people from local government, education, business, labor, and cultural organizations to learn about what happens in the State House. They’ll hear presentations by Massachusetts legislative leaders, including the Speaker of the House, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Stan Rosenberg, Ben Downing, Steve Kulik, and others. Touring the State House, they’ll sit where the legislature sits and stand where the Speaker of the House stands. The GCC students also will get to know community leaders from Franklin and Berkshire counties.

Mark started the now-annual regional leadership conference in 2011 to increase collaboration in the region and to shed light on what happens at the State House. After attending the first conference, Eisenberg asked Mark to include GCC students. Since then, a wide range of students have attended the conference, including GCC Student Senators, veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and teenagers who are dual-enrolled from their high schools.

Mark said, “I love watching people from the district ask questions directly to high ranking officials and teach these officials more about our region. It’s a great learning experience for everyone involved. This is a great opportunity for GCC students to learn more about their government and to get interested in the legislative process. It is very important to me that tomorrow’s voters and leaders understand government is not a mysterious third party entity, it is a process by which everyone has a say in determining the direction of our society.”

Eisenberg said, “The students ask excellent questions and the leaders treat the students with respect. They develop a sense that they can hold their own while talking with community leaders and state dignitaries. The students get to understand how lives are impacted by what happens in this building. And, they learn the historical context, that 200 years ago, citizens were doing this. This is an example of Representative Mark’s unrelenting commitment to public higher education and GCC’s commitment to civic engagement.”

Victoria Damato, 36, from Athol participated in 2nd Berkshire Day while a student at GCC. She graduated from GCC in May with an Associate degree in Criminal Justice. Now studying Law and Society at Western New England University, Damato plans to attend law school in the future. She said, “The leaders we met were very open and made us feel like we were important. I’ve been in the United States for ten years. Coming from Poland, this is very different than anything that happens in Poland, where there is a big line drawn between citizens and people in government. For me, wanting to study law, it was powerful to sit where legislation is crafted. In the House Chamber, I became aware of the significance of what goes on there and felt the connectedness of the long history of legislation that has been brought forward in that very chamber. I also became more aware of the deeper responsibility that politicians embrace while in office. There are people you meet who have the power to transform and change your life by exposing you to something that would never have happened without them. Buz Eisenberg and Paul Mark have been that for me.”

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/23/students-see-state-government-up-close-and-personal/feed/0GCC receives USDA grant to support sustainable agriculture educationhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/15/gcc-receives-usda-grant-to-support-sustainable-agriculture-education/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/15/gcc-receives-usda-grant-to-support-sustainable-agriculture-education/#commentsWed, 15 Oct 2014 18:28:10 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1625http://www.gcc.mass.edu/academics/2014/10/15/gcc-receives-usda-grant-to-support-sustainable-agriculture-education/#.VEVlnIt4q28
]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/15/gcc-receives-usda-grant-to-support-sustainable-agriculture-education/feed/0GCC & Community Action Lead the Way in Early Care and Educationhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/09/gcc-community-action-lead-the-way-in-early-care-and-education/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/09/gcc-community-action-lead-the-way-in-early-care-and-education/#commentsThu, 09 Oct 2014 14:42:07 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1622When Community Action’s staff couldn’t find enough college-level coursework in leadership to meet Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care requirements, Gwen Hawk knew who to call. Hawk, Education Manager for Community Action’s Parent Child Development Center (PCDC), phoned Kate Finnegan, Co-Chair of GCC’s Education Department, to talk about how to meet this workforce development need. That conversation led to Finnegan and Hawk creating and delivering EDU 244 “Leadership in Early Care and Education” in summer 2014 to 15 PCDC staff members from Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.

Hawk said, “I turned to GCC for several reasons. GCC is a responsive community player uniquely invested in the development of the early care and education workforce. GCC’s Education Department was instrumental to my success within the field. I would not be the leader I am today without the leadership, mentoring, and wisdom of the Education Department leaders at GCC. And, I know where to go to make things happen because GCC moves mountains when it comes to meeting community needs!”

Hawk and Finnegan quickly realized they each brought invaluable perspective and knowledge to the project and needed to co-create a course. Finnegan brought a background in academic scholarship on leadership in education and a broad theoretical perspective. Hawk, who holds an Associate of Science from GCC, an Associate of Arts, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, brought the context of working her way up from being an early childhood teacher to her current position managing the PCDC/Head Start education department in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s Vision Project provided support for the development and delivery of the course.

Massachusetts rates licensed child care centers using the MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). For a program to achieve QRIS Level 3, the program’s administrator must have nine credits of college courses in leadership and management. Across the state, program administrators are having a hard time finding such courses. Most of the students in EDU 244 were PCDC site program administrators seeking credits to benefit their centers and careers.

Topics covered by the seven-week course focused on building the students’ capability as supervisors and mentors. To serve students working in three counties, Finnegan and Hawk chose an online/hybrid course format with reading and writing assignments, online discussions, and three face-to-face sessions. The face-to-face sessions featured speakers addressing challenging real-life workplace situations and student presentations.

Reflecting on the course’s impact on PCDC staff, Hawk said, “Early care and education is evolving as a field from a babysitter mindset to an educational professional mindset. There’s nothing more important than the care provided to children and it takes a lot to run an effective program. We have a dedicated workforce, but they they need more tools to help them do the job. This course is one of the tools.”

Finnegan sees EDU 244 as a model for other courses. She said, “When considering workforce development, we must listen to the people in the workplace. I could have developed an academically rigorous course on my own, but developing and delivering this course with Gwen meant it was very specific to the workforce needs and grounded in the here and now. It was wonderful to share a rapid, thoughtful, creative course development process with Gwen. We can learn broad lessons from this collaboration about excellence in college courses for workforce development.”

For information about EDU 244 and other GCC Education Department courses, contact Kate Finnegan at finnegan@gcc.mass.edu or 413-775-1125.

Coinciding with Manufacturing Day, October 1, 2014, Tooling U-SME, a leader in manufacturing training and development, today presented its Platinum Education Center designation to six community and technical colleges nationwide, including Greenfield Community College.

The Tooling U-SME Platinum Education Center (TUPEC) awards are presented to educational facilities that serve as models in the manufacturing industry when it comes to developing an outstanding learning culture. Schools are selected based on adoption of Tooling U-SME’s online training program and strong utilization rates of online training in a blended learning format. These six schools join 21 other past TUPEC awardees.

According to The Institute for Supply Management, the U.S. manufacturing industry is growing at its fastest pace within the past three years. However, according to The Boston Consulting Group, without aggressive action, the next decade is expected to bring a potential shortfall of 875,000 machinists, welders, industrial machinery mechanics and industrial engineers. As demand for skilled workers continues to increase, community colleges and technical schools are striving to provide training that meets the needs of manufacturers.

“The schools that we honor with the TUPEC designation demonstrate an exceptional commitment and dedication to preparing students for a successful career in the manufacturing industry,” said Toni Neary, education specialist for Tooling U-SME’s Government and Education Group. “Instructors at these schools are finding innovative ways to effectively use both online and hands-on training to help students develop critical skills and become strong candidates for employment at local manufacturing facilities.”

The schools that received the 2014 TUPEC designation include:

Atlantic Technical College, Coconut Creek, Florida, employs an effective approach to training that integrates academics and technical training with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The program enables students to obtain information and tools, while enabling instructors to provide hands-on support.

Fayetteville (North Carolina) Technical Community College is part of a consortium of statewide community colleges that aims to educate and train displaced and dislocated workers to fill the needs of local manufacturers. Using state-of-the-art equipment for hands-on training and a new approach to learning, students can earn certificates, degrees and diplomas, and ultimately, obtain full-time employment.

Greenfield (Massachusetts) Community College has partnered with Tooling U-SME for a new training program for entry-level CNC operators, targeting unemployed and underemployed workers. In addition, to meet the demand for skills workers in its community, Greenfield Community College has worked with area manufacturers to pilot classes for incumbent workers.

Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, Michigan, has proven to be a pioneer in the way it structures its training, offering a dynamic open-entry/open-exit program that gives students flexibility in scheduling coursework and laboratory work.

The Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AZ-AMI) of Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, has enhanced its current curriculum and laboratory equipment, and is blending innovation using technology such as Tooling U-SME online training. In addition to traditional students, the AZ-AMI strategy is to attract workers with existing skills and aptitude to help them develop new skills sought by local employers.

Since 2012, Tooling U-SME has been recognizing exceptional schools that are helping build a robust pipeline of skilled manufacturing workers in the U.S. with the TUPEC award.

For more information about Tooling U-SME, email info@toolingu.com or visit tooling.com.

When community college leaders from across the United States look for an example of an innovative, effective, and sustainable college, they’ll look to Greenfield Community College. As part of an expanding national effort to support environmentally sustainable practices, programs, and job training at the nation’s almost 1,200 community colleges, Greenfield Community College is one of five exemplary community colleges to be presented with an American Association of Community College (AACC) Green Genome Award today.

The Green Genome Awards, created by AACC’s Sustainability Education and Economic Development Center (SEED), are evaluated in four key areas critical to holistic green college transformation: community engagement, governance, program design and delivery, and strategic partnerships. Greenfield Community College is recognized as the Overall winner, demonstrating excellence in all four key areas. That excellence can be seen in GCC’s academic programs in Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Farm and Food Systems, on-campus photovoltaic solar panels and permaculture garden, campus-wide composting and recycling, collaborations with many community partners, and campus leadership that considers sustainability in its decision making. Greenfield Community College will be awarded $7,500 plus a set of state-of-the-art Bahco brand Snap-on tools and horticulture equipment. The awards are sponsored by Snap-on.

Greenfield Community College President Bob Pura said, ““As the primary organizing body of community colleges of the United States, AACC knows and understands community colleges across the country. We therefore are most honored and lifted by this recognition. I am so very proud of all of the people in the College and the Community who made it possible for AACC to recognize GCC with this award. It is great to get acknowledged for demonstrating best practices by an organization that is so well informed. What this award also does is encourage us to work harder and aspire to even higher standards.”

“AACC is thrilled to recognize colleges like Greenfield Community College that have not only prepared a skilled workforce, but have also become change agents in regional efforts to develop a green and sustainable economy,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC President and CEO. “Through the SEED Center, AACC is providing community colleges an important roadmap to connect and integrate campus sustainability practices and clean economy-related education and workforce development.”

“This national award will not only equip GCC with state-of-the-art equipment but also with additional capital to boost their already successful program,” said U.S. Representative Jim McGovern. “This award is further proof that GCC is a national leader in the field of sustainable and renewable energy education and workforce development.”

As a community college, GCC has been able to serve as facilitator to bring together the remarkable talent and passion from our region and grow sustainable practices from the ground up. Our programs and activities reflect hundreds of hands, minds and hearts. Our work brings together big-picture ideas and the literal nuts-and-bolts of building energy systems, planting food, working side-by-side with different people toward common goals. We know that it’s a perpetual work in progress and we thank our students, especially, for helping us to ‘walk the talk.’ I’m thrilled with this acknowledgement of our collective achievement.

The SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture and Green Energy) Education Center at Greenfield Community College – “where science, workforce development, and civic responsibility meet” – bridges the work of the Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Farm and Food Systems Programs along with related offerings of GCC’s Department of Workforce Development. Through the work of the SAGE Center, GCC is addressing three of the most compelling issues of our time – climate change, job security, and social justice. We are teaching students how to protect the environment and are helping them get good green jobs. In addition to honoring the work the college does in sustainability, The Green Genome Award very significantly and specifically honors the ninety community businesses and organizations with whom the RE/EE and FFS programs partner. This award recognizes the entire community.

Montserrat Archbald, Green Campus Committee Chair

So much of the work we do on a daily basis is small and incremental—it’s great to be recognized as part of a much larger movement at GCC and colleges across the country.

Abrah Dresdale, Faculty/Coordinator of Farm and Food Systems program

I believe in working at a college that takes a whole systems approach to sustainability, where an institution chooses to leverage its position to demonstrate best practices. At GCC, we have a new bike share program, local food procurement for the dining commons, a green speaker series, and many other examples of sustainability permeating the campus. The Farm and Food Systems program is a liberal arts degree option focused on sustainable agriculture, permaculture, and building resilient regional food systems. We have worked with over 40 community partners, including the Franklin County Jail, where we offer an organic gardening class for incarcerated men; now there is a vegetable garden and fruit trees at the jail! Through a grant from the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts we’re collaborating with grant partners NELCWIT, Montague Catholic Social Ministries, and Seeds of Solidarity to support women in transition to increase their food security and economic independence. The Farm and Food Systems program at GCC teaches about and engages with the interface of sustainability and social justice issues in our community and beyond.

Brian Adams, Professor of Environmental Science

Photovoltaics behind the East Building; a passive solar greenhouse; a permaculture garden; a LEED-certified building renovation; academic programs in Farm and Food Systems and Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency; active and committed faculty and staff. These are some of the reasons why GCC has received this prestigious sustainability award. We have accomplished so much and we have so much more to accomplish.

What greater testament is there to the value of our programs than the work of our graduates? They are installing energy systems, diagnosing houses for energy efficiency, creating community gardens – living with quiet passion and conviction as business owners, coop members, employees, interns, volunteers and good citizens. Our graduates express their appreciation for GCC by sitting on advisory boards and inviting students to intern with them. The work builds on itself. They are facing the pressing demands of our future.

About SEED

AACC’s Sustainability Education & Economic Development Initiative, SEED, advances sustainability and green workforce development practices at community colleges by sharing innovative models and free resources to increase the capacity of college leaders, faculty, and staff to build the green economy. The SEED Initiative was created in partnership with ecoAmerica and has received support from the Kresge, Flora Family, and Surdna Foundations and corporate partners Snap-on and Pearson Higher Education. www.theSEEDcenter.org

About the American Association of Community Colleges

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s more than 1,100 community, junior, and technical colleges and their more than 13 million students. Community colleges are the largest and fastest growing sector of higher education. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AACC has been in operation since 1920. For more information about AACC and community colleges see www.aacc.nche.edu

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]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/10/01/gcc-wins-national-green-genome-award/feed/0GED / High School Equivalency Graduation to be held October 8http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ged-high-school-equivalency-graduation-to-be-held-thursday-october-8/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ged-high-school-equivalency-graduation-to-be-held-thursday-october-8/#commentsMon, 29 Sep 2014 17:59:55 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1586On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, more than 30 GED (General Educational Development) and HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) graduates and their families will participate in a commencement ceremony at Greenfield Community College Main Campus from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Greenfield Community College has one of the highest High School Equivalency test passing rates of the twenty-five Testing Centers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2013, 199 students earned their GED at GCC and in 2014, 48 students have earned their High School Equivalency Credential by taking the new HiSET test. The HiSET test replaced the GED test for High School Equivalency Credentials in April 2014. Graduates range in age from 16 – 70. On Wednesday, October 8, 2014, more than 30 GED (General Educational Development) and HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) graduates and their families will participate in a commencement ceremony at Greenfield Community College Main Campus from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Literacy Project, the Franklin Hampshire Career Center, the Family Learning Center and GCC. Officials participating will be GCC President Robert L. Pura and State Chief GED / HSE Examiner, Tom Mechem. Speakers will include Donna DuSell, Youth Career Pathways Coordinator, Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board; Kari Lake, former GED and GCC graduate; Donna Tanner current GED graduate and Shoshone Sadoski current HiSET graduate. There will also be presentations of the Tricia Donovan Memorial Scholarships. The event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Literacy Project, the Franklin Hampshire Career Center, the Family Learning Center and GCC. Please join us to hear and celebrate the amazing success stories. # # #
]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ged-high-school-equivalency-graduation-to-be-held-thursday-october-8/feed/0GCC’s Popular Senior Symposia Expands Locations and Program Formathttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/gccs-popular-senior-symposia-expands-locations-and-program-format/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/gccs-popular-senior-symposia-expands-locations-and-program-format/#commentsMon, 29 Sep 2014 07:30:55 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1594Twelve years ago, former Greenfield Community College administrator Risky Case buttonholed GCC Dean for Community Education Bob Barba at a College event and said, “I’d like to talk with you about the College doing more for seniors.” Within a few weeks, Barba met with Case and about twenty-five others that Case helped bring together. That October 2002 meeting led to the then-named Senior Education and Enrichment Program at GCC, now called Senior Symposia, which opened with a slate of six titles in January 2003. A collaborative effort between Greenfield Community College’s Office of Community Education and area senior citizens, the Senior Symposia provide a way for area seniors to continue their education in a format that best suits their needs, interests, and resources. Clearly popular given a recent jump in attendance, the Senior Symposia present intellectually stimulating topics in single or multi-session formats, held during daytime hours in convenient, accessible locations. Since 2003, 7,606 seniors have attended 200 Symposia. Currently, about 400-500 people per semester attend Symposia on topics ranging from history and music to current events, travel, and art. Participants in this fall’s Symposia will learn about baseball, post-cold war nuclear risk, Chinese laborers in Berkshire County, Emily Dickinson, department stores, and more. Topics and presenters are chosen and developed by the Senior Symposia Planning Board and Risky Case still serves on that Board.

While most Symposia are held at GCC’s Downtown Campus on Main Street, some are held in alternative locations, including Stinchfield Lecture Hall and the Sloan Theater at GCC’s Main Campus and the Arts Block and The Pushkin in downtown Greenfield. The café-style seating of the Arts Block was the venue for last year’s jazz improvisation Symposium featuring pianist Jerry Noble and clarinetist Bob Sparkman. Noble, staff accompanist in the music department at Smith College and classical music writer for the Springfield Republican, and Sparkman play traditional jazz of the 1930s and 40s. For the Symposium, they mixed performance with conversation with the audience about how improvisation works.

Noble said, “The Symposium was a new format for us, an opportunity to give a peek into the process of what we do with improvisation. The back and forth of interaction with the Symposium participants was terrific. They were a super literate audience that brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event. They brought up ideas we’d never considered, we were improvising with the audience. We enjoyed it so much that we’ve since presented a similar program to several music clubs.”

Barba said, “The Planning Board is committed to exploring new kinds of programming, a range of formats, and different venues to reach new audiences. The October 8 program on archguitar featuring Peter Blanchette will be a performance/conversation combination and the October 21 program includes a film created for the Emily Dickinson museum and presentations by the film’s scriptwriter and producers. The Arts Block is just one example of alternative venues the Senior Symposia program has used and is exploring. Although recent developments with that building make the location of the October 8 Peter Blanchette program uncertain at press time, the symposium will go forward either at the Arts Block or at the GCC Downtown Center.”

Risky Case continues to encourage the Planning Board to find programming that meets needs not yet being met. She said, “You never know what’s going to happen until you try. Since the beginning of the Symposia, we’ve made sure that the people who we’re trying to serve are involved in the decision making about the programs.”

John and Betts Bednarski of Greenfield are long-time Symposia participants who served on the Planning Board for a number of years. John said, “The Symposia are a tremendous opportunity for older people to extend their knowledge of interests they already have and to learn about new topics. Along with learning, Betts and I have developed very good friends among Symposia participants, including those who share our interests and some we would never have met otherwise. The Senior Symposia is a wonderful extension of GCC’s efforts in our community. They help everyone have a chance to keep on learning later in life.”

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/gccs-popular-senior-symposia-expands-locations-and-program-format/feed/0MA Community Colleges awarded $20 million U.S. Dept. of Labor Granthttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ma-community-colleges-awarded-20-million-u-s-dept-of-labor-grant/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ma-community-colleges-awarded-20-million-u-s-dept-of-labor-grant/#commentsMon, 29 Sep 2014 07:00:13 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1591Highest Funded Grant in the Country

Boston, MA, September 29, 2014 –A consortia proposal submitted collectively by the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts led by Massasoit Community College has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for the fourth and final round of federal funding from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT). The community colleges are advancing a comprehensive approach to addressing the training and educational needs of workers and employers statewide with a focus on articulated pathways to careers in high-growth STEM sectors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; as well as advanced manufacturing and healthcare). The $20 million grant is the highest funded of the 66 awarded in the country by U.S. DOL. The project, entitled Guided Pathways to Success in STEM (GPSTEM), will use the national Complete College America Guided Pathways to Success model to assist eligible students in obtaining degrees and certificates in STEM fields. The model focuses on reducing the time to completion of certificates and degree programs, resulting in more students entering employment in the Commonwealth and/or transferring into baccalaureate programs to add to their credentials.

During the three-year grant period, 24 STEM degree options and 58 certificate programs will be newly created or significantly enhanced in partnership with business/industry, the Commonwealth’s workforce system, the state universities, and UMass. The project will also build capacity on the highly successful Career & College Navigator model the Massachusetts Community Colleges designed and implemented during the Round I TAACCCT Grant Award in 2011. An important part of the Round IV initiative will focus on creating collaborative pipelines for students to seamlessly transfer to baccalaureate programs to meet industry demand in certain STEM industry areas. “Creating key pipeline collaborations in the STEM fields in conjunction with the state universities and UMass will serve as a new model for creating comprehensive higher education and industry partnerships in the Commonwealth,” said Bill Hart, executive officer of the Massachusetts Community Colleges Council of Presidents.

The focus is primarily on helping TAA-eligible un- and under-employed workers and veterans enter STEM programs and obtain high-skill, high-waged jobs. However, the funding to implement Complete College America’s GPS model will assist community colleges in infusing additional comprehensive student supports throughout the 15 campuses that will benefit all student populations. “I am of course delighted by the announcement. The Advanced Manufacturing and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields are key and significant to this grant. I am particularly pleased this grant will provide the educational opportunities for good people to get good jobs with good wages. That fits well with our strategic direction and priorities. The fact Massachusetts received the largest single allocation says a lot about the work of the community colleges of the Commonwealth and how we are perceived” said President Robert Pura of Greenfield Community College.

Additionally, $5 million of the $20 million will be for an additional statewide collaborative to work with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the state’s workforce system (state career centers and Workforce Investment Boards) to create a pilot around technology-enabled solutions to integrate systems at the community colleges and the state’s career centers to aggregate data and inform decisions on serving Trade-Impacted workers, unemployed and underemployed clients, and students. This additional statewide collaborative will be referred to as the Data Bus and is a project on top of the main proposal of the development of Guided Pathways in STEM. Cape Cod Community College also received a solitary grant of $2,471,478 to focus on training students in aviation maintenance and avionics, bringing the total funding for Massachusetts to more than $22,400,000.

]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/29/ma-community-colleges-awarded-20-million-u-s-dept-of-labor-grant/feed/0Inside Art Exhibit Bridges Jail & Communityhttp://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/26/inside-art-exhibit-bridges-jail-community/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/26/inside-art-exhibit-bridges-jail-community/#commentsFri, 26 Sep 2014 13:57:31 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1584While artwork in the Inside Art exhibit at Artspace covers a range of subjects and media, the varied pieces all deliver one message. Created by men incarcerated at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (the Greenfield Jail), everything in the exhibit says loud and clear: “We’re here, and we’re members of the community.”

How did art by incarcerated men find its way to an exhibit at Artspace? The first public event sponsored by the Elm Street Think Tank, Inside Art’s origins are rooted in painting and writing classes offered to men at the jail and in a collaboration between Greenfield Community College and the Sheriff’s Office. Established in December 2013, the Elm Street Think Tank is a group of community members and residents of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office who meet weekly at the jail to work on collaborative projects and promote alternatives to incarceration by raising awareness and connecting people, ideas, and resources.

The Think Tank grew out of a GCC sociology course (Crime and Punishment in the U.S.) which brings GCC students inside the jail to study alongside incarcerated students. The course and Think Tank are modeled on the international Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, based at Temple University in Philadelphia. GCC Adjunct Faculty member and Inside-Out instructor Revan Schendler has taught the course since 2011. Meeting in the jail library, a room with many paintings by jail residents displayed on its walls, Think Tank members admired the artwork and decided to create an exhibit in the community. Joan O’Beirne, GCC Associate Professor of Art and member of the Think Tank, began photographing the artwork in December: on display are prints of her photographs, since many of the paintings and drawings are no longer available, or have been painted over. The photographs and poems in the exhibit can also be viewed online at http://franklincountyinsideart.weebly.com/. Ya-Ping Douglass, a Think Tank member and former GCC student, created the website. At the exhibit’s opening on September 12, Ya-Ping solicited comments to share with the artists and poets; GCC student/Think Tank member Julianne Jones and a local videographer recorded interviews with visitors.

Joan said, “When the men inside heard about the art exhibit, they were eager to be involved. More men showed up for Judith Harper’s art class and Jim Bell’s poetry class. It inspired more people to produce more art. Many visitors to the exhibit have responded, saying how the exhibit opened their minds and broke down stereotypes they have about ‘criminals.’ The big message of this exhibit and the eagerness of the men to be involved is ‘we’re not statistics, we’ll be back in the community soon, we want people to know us.’”

Commenting on the impact of the exhibit, Revan said, “The exhibit and other community collaborations with the jail help break down the walls between those who are incarcerated and those who are not. It shows how much talent flows out of people when they are given a chance and encouragement. Access to education and to art helps develop their ability to learn and to express themselves. One goal of GCC classes in the jail is to build a jail-to-college pathway. The more education people have, the less likely they are to return to prison.”

Inside Art is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. through October 3 at Artspace, 15 Mill Street in Greenfield. For information, contact Revan Schendler at Schendlerr@gcc.mass.edu.

By Mary McClintock, ’82

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]]>http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/26/inside-art-exhibit-bridges-jail-community/feed/0GCC announces President’s List & Dean’s List for Summer 2014http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/23/gcc-announces-presidents-list-deans-list-for-summer-2014/
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/2014/09/23/gcc-announces-presidents-list-deans-list-for-summer-2014/#commentsTue, 23 Sep 2014 08:00:28 +0000http://www.gcc.mass.edu/marketing/?p=1601Each semester Greenfield Community College recognizes superlative academic performance. We applaud the success of students who earn these high grades and appreciate sacrifices that are often made by students in order to earn these grades.

For Summer 2014, GCC named 48 students to the President’s List and 31 students to the Dean’s List. To be included on the President’s List student must be matriculated in a program and have: achieved a term GPA of 4.0 at the term’s end; earned at least 12 credits at GCC; earned at least 6 college-level graded credits in the semester or during summer terms I and II combined; no incomplete grades; no grade less than a “C” in the term; and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term. To be included on the Dean’s List a student must be matriculated in a program and have: achieved a term GPA of at least 3.50 or higher but less than 4.0 at the term’s end; earned at least 12 credits at GCC; earned at least 6 college-level graded credits in the semester or during summer terms I and II combined; no incomplete grades; no grade less than a “C” in the term; and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.